School uniform row: Kent headteacher turns away 20 more pupils for wearing wrong clothes

Hartsdown Academy headteacher turned away 50 pupils on Tuesday for wearing the wrong clothes

Kent Police received a report of disturbance at the school gates (Google Maps)

A headteacher embroiled in a school uniform row with parents has turned away another 20 pupils for wearing the wrong .

Matthew Tate, the headteacher of Hartswood Academy in Margate, sent 50 pupils home on Tuesday for wearing the wrong clothes.

Police were called to the scene after a disturbance was reported at the school when a large number of pupils and parents congregated outside the school gates.

Having only taken up the post recently, Mr Tate said he contacted parents over the summer outlining a stricter uniform code.

He told parents adherence to the uniform code would lead to better behaviour and improved grades.

Defending his strong stance, Mr Tate said: "This is a school that has been underperforming and we are determined to do the very best by the children of Thanet, this is part of raising expectations and standards so that every child has a fantastic education.

"A small minority of parents were not happy but we have had emails and phone calls from other parents to express their support and they said this is a good thing, that it is good to set standards and they want the best for the children.

"I have had feedback from teachers that behaviour was much better and if we can improve behaviour by 10% then that gives children another 19 days school, so a small amount of time out of school is a price worth paying."

He added: "The police weren't called by the school, the police were driving past and stopped because there was a group of children around the front."

Parent Lorna Bristow told KentOnline: "My son was turned away this morning because he was wearing shoes that looked like trainers. They were okay last year, so why aren't they now?"

A Kent Police spokesman said: "At 11.03am on Tuesday September 6 Kent Police received a report of a disturbance at an educational establishment in George V Avenue, Margate.

"A PCSO who is based at the school was in attendance. Two police officers later attended the school for a brief period but no offences were disclosed."